Apparatus for discharging dangerous liquids and gases.



E. B. CRUGER. APPARATUS FOR UISCHARGING DANGEROUS LIQUIDS AND GASES.

APPLI CATION FILED JULY8, l9l5- 1,182,460.

Patented May 9, 1916.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ERNEST B. CRUGER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF, AND JOSEPHBRADLEY, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

APPARATUS FOR DISCHARG-ING DANGEROUS LIQUIDS AND GASES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May-9, 1916.

Application filed July 8, 1915. Serial No. 38,813.

To all iuhom it may concern Be it known that I, ERNEST B. CRUGER, acitizen of the United States, residing in the city of New York, boroughof Bronx,

in the county of Bronx and State of New York, have invented acertain newand useful Improvement in Apparatus. for Dis uids or gases are stored orare performing duties, as for example in the system of pipes and tanksor receivers constituting an ammonia refrigerating plant, and thusprevent the uncontrolled liberation of such liquids and gases to theatmosphere with the consequent danger to life and-property.

A further object is to provide means for facilitating and acceleratingthe flow of such liquids and ases to such place of safety, and anotherlmportant object is to provide means for initiating such flow from asafety station located at a distance from the system or container, or sosituated and condi tioned relatively to the latter as to be safelyaccessible at all times.

These objects are attained by utilizing and directing the kinetic energyand the absorbent and dissolving properties of water, steam, air, orother fluid or gas, acting potentially from a head or'pressure through asuitable apparatus, to meet and mingle or combine with the dangerousliquid or gas and impel the latter thus mixed'or absorbed to trawlthrough a closed duct to a place of harmless disposal.

The accompanying drawings form a part of this specification and show apreferred form of apparatus by which the inventio maybe successfullycarried out.

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic side elevation of a refrigerating plant ofthe compression type, equipped with the invention. Fig. 2 is a sideelevation on a larger scale and partly in vertical section, showing thesafety apparatus and connections therefrom. Fig. 3 is a front view,partly in vertical section,

uid receiver A showing one form of operating device adapted to actuatethe apparatus from a d stant station. Fig. 4 is vertical longitudinalsection through the ihain portions of the apparatus. Fig. 5 is acorresponding horizontal section, taken on the line 55 in Fig. 4. Fig. 6is a horizontal section, on a still larger scale, showing one of thecontrolling valves in detail.

Similar letters of reference indicate the same parts in all the figures,

The invention will be described as applied to a. refrigerating plant inwhich ammonia is employed.

A is the compressor, A the main dis-' charge pipe therefrom leading tothe oiltrap A and thence to the condenser A in which the ammonia gas isliquefied and flows to the liquid receiver A. The liquid ammonia passesthe expansion valve B in the expansion line B and by its change from theliquid to the gaseous form absorbs heat from the cooling coils B asusual.

C is the return pipe to the compressor. A break in the ammonia systemimmediately releases large volumes of ammonia gas extremely dangerous tolife and property in the neighborhood; it is the purpose of thisinvention to provide means operable from stations located at a distanceor otherwise -safely protected, by which the ammonia may be immediatelydrained from the systemand led harmlessly away.

is the body of a cored casting or valve casing having a bonnet D securedthereto by bolts D extending through lugs D havmg a passage E connectedto a pipe E leading from a supply of water .under pressure, which may bethe usual street main, not shown, and a passage F connected to a pipe Fleadingfrom the under side of the liqor other convenient low point inthe ammonia system.

G is a chamber formed in the body D, preferably shaped to coact with atapered nozzle D on the bonnet D, projecting into .bonnet at the point Kand having its upper receptacle in which ammonia may be allowed toescape safely.

Each passage E and F terminates in the body portion D in an annularvalve seat e, f, and the supply passage E is in communication with thechamber G through a recess E in the bonnet and through the nozzle D",while the relief passage F communicates with the chamber. G exterior "tothe nozzle, through a recess F in the bonnet. Thus water under pressureis projected into the chamber in a strong jet and acting by thewell-known'ejector principle, draws ammonia in liquid or gaseous formthrough the passage F and recess F and combined with Or absorbed by suchwater is forcibly ejected through the duct G and pipe G to the drain orother receptacle. The several passages, ducts, recesses and nozzle areof sufficient area andso arranged and proportioned as to permit theammonia to be drawn rapidly from the liquid receiver A when theapparatus is in operation.

The passage E is controlled by a circular valve H suitably packed onboth faces and has an axial valve stem H extending through the bonnet Dterminating in a hollowed head H serving as an abutment for one end ofan expand ng helical spring H encircling the stein and abutting at theopposite end against the outer face of the bonnet and exerting itsexpansive force to move the valve from its seat and open the passage Eto the nozzle D. The passage F is provided with a similar valve J havinga stem J and head. J and equipped with a spring J acting in thedirection to move the valve J from its seat I and permit am monia toenter the chamber G through the passage F. Both passages are held closedand the apparatus normally inactive by a yoke K pivotally attached atone end to the free end shaped to receive the hook or nose L of a latchL pivotally connected to the bonnet at the point L opposite to the hingeK of the yoke. The latter is drilled and tapped in axial alinement withthe.

valve stems H J and receives screws K K adapted to contact with theheads H J 2 and hold the valves to their seats in oppo, sition to theforce of the springs H J 3 when the yoke is engagedby its latch L andthu hold the passages normally closed.

K K are check-nuts serving v to retain the screws K and K position whenthe latter are properly adjusted. It will be seen that thus conditionedthe passages E and F remain closed until the latch L is lifted and theyoke K released, when by the stems project, are valve seats 03 adaptedto receive the outer faces of the valves when the latter are released,and prevent leakage of water or ammonia through such aper' vM in whichthe yoke and latch are inclosed for prntection against accidentalrelease, having passages therein connected'to conduits N which extend tolocations or stations remote from the ammonia system or so protected asto be safely approached, and contain each a light cable or flexible cordattached at one end to the latch and terminating in any suitable devicefor exerting a strong pull on the latch, as for example, thewinding-drum N inclosed in a casing N and rotated by a lever N througha. slot n in the casing. &

In the event of fire in cold storage warehouses onrefrigerating plants,the possibility of a break in the ammonia system and consequentliberation of ammonia gas constitutes a serious menace to the firemenand others in and about the building. This invention permits the ammoniato be drawn off safely and quickly before such break occurs, or in theevent of a break the latch may be tripped from any of a number ofapplied to an ammonia plant, it will be understood that it will servesuccessfully in controlling other dangerous, noxious, explo-. sive, orinflammable liquids and gases; and

other fluids having the property of absorb-- ing, dissolving,neutralizing, or combining with such liquids or gases, may be substit edfor water as a vehicle for inducing the ow and carrying away thedangerous liquids orgases.

Other means than that shown may be'employed for lifting the latch andreleasing the yoke, and the arrangement of passages, pipes and conduitsmay be varied as circumstances .may dlctate.

E and F are check-valves in the pipes E and F serving to prevent backflow through such pipes due to excess pressure in either. Y

I claim g 1. In an apparatus of the character set forth, a. valve casinghaving a chamber therein, a relief passage leadingto said:

chamber and connected to the system to be emptied, a supply passageleading to said chamber and arranged to deliverfluid under pressurethereto, a discharge duct from said chamber, valves controlling saidpassages and held normally closed, and means operable from a safetystation for opening said valves.

2. In an apparatus of the character set forth, a valve casing having achamber therein, a relief passage leading to said chamber and connectedto the system to be emptied, a supply passage leading to said chamberand arranged to deliver fluid under pressure thereto, a discharge ductfrom said chamber, valves controlling said passages, means for holdingsaid valves normally closed, and means operable from a safety stationfor releasing said valves.

3. In an apparatus of the character set forth, a valve casing having achamber, an ejector nozzle in said chamber, a relief passage leading tosaid chamber exterior to said nozzle and connected to the system to beemptied, a supply passa e leading to said chamber through said nozzleand arranged to deliver fluid under pressure thereto, a discharge ductfrom said chamber, valves controlling said passages, and means operablefrom a safety station for releasing said valves.

4. A valve casing having a chamber therein, a relief passage leading tosaid chamber and connected to the system to be emptied, a supply passageleading to said chamber and arranged to deliver fluid under pressurethereto, a discharge duct from said chamber, valves controlling saidpassages, springs tending to open said valves, a yoke adapted to holdsaid valves closed in opposition to said springs, and a latch forholding said yoke in the closed position.

5. A valve casing having a chamber therein, a relief passage leading tosaid chamber and connected to the system to be emptied, a supply passageleading to said chamber and arranged to deliver fluid under pressurethereto, a discharge duct from said chamber, valves controlling saidpassages, springs tending to open said valves, a yoke adapted to holdsaid valves closed in opposition to said springs, a latch for holdingsaid yoke in the closed position, and means operable from a safetystation for moving said latch to release said yoke.

6. A valve casing having a chamber therein, a relief passage leading tosaid chamber and connected to the system to be emptied, a supply passageleading to said chamber and arranged to deliver fluid under pressurethereto, a discharge duct from said chamber, valves controlling saidpassages, springs tending to open said valves, a yoke adapted to holdsaid valves closed in opposition to said springs, a latch for holdingsaid yoke in the closed position, a plurality of winding-drums eachlocated in separate safety stations, and connections from said drums tosaid latch, whereby the rotation of either drum moves said latch torelease said yoke.

7. A valve casing comprising a body and bonnet, a chamber in said body,a relief passage in said body communicating through said bonnet withsaid chamber and arranged to be connected to the system to be emptied, asupply passage in said body communicating through said bonnet with saidchamber and arranged to deliver fluid under pressure to said chamber, adischarge duct from the latter, a relief valve seat and a supply valveseat on said body, axially movable doublefaced valves coacting with saidvalve seats to close said passages, axial valve stems on said valvesextending through apertures in said bonnet, springs tending to move saidvalves to open said passages, and valve seats on said bonnet surroundingsaid apertures and stems, adapted to coact with said valves and closesaid apertures by the action of said springs in moving said valves toopen said passages.

8. A valve casing comprising a body and bonnet, a chamber in said body,an ejector nozzle on said bonnet extending into said chamber, a reliefpassage in said body communicating through said bonnet with said chamberexterior to said nozzle and arranged to be connected to the system to beemptied, a supply passage in said body communicating through said bonnetWith said chamber through the interior of said nozzle and arranged todeliver fluid under pressure to said chamber, a discharge duct from thelatter, axially movable valves controlling said passages and havingstems extending through said bonnet, heads on said stems, and springsbetween said heads and bonnet tending to move said valves to open saidpassages, a yoke hinged at one end to said bonnet, means on said yokefor engaging said heads, and a movable latch ar-v ranged to engage thefree end of said yoke and hold said valves closed in opposition to saids rings.

9. g valve casing comprising a body and bonnet, a chamber in said body,an ejector.

nozzle on said bonnet extending into said chamber, a relief passage insaid body communicating through said bonnet with said chamber exteriorto said nozzle and arranged to be connected to the system to be emptied,a supply passage in said body communicating through said bonnet withsaid chamber through the interior of said nozzle and arranged to deliverfluid under pressure to said chamber, a discharge duct from the latter,axially movable valves controlling said passages and having stemsextending through said bonnet, heads on said stems and springs betweensaid heads and bonnet tending to move said valves to open said passages,a yoke hinged at one end to said bonnet, means on said yoke for engagingIn testimony that I claim the invention said heads, a movable latcharranged to enabove set forth I aflix my signature, in gage the free endof said yoke and hold said presence of two witnessse.

valves closed in opposition to saidsprings, ERNEST B. CRUGER. and meansoperable from a safety station Witnesses: for moving said latch andreleasing said F.'P. THOMPSON,

yoke and valves. JOHN BURKE;

